News

K&A Clients AchIeve Success Abroad Through Targeted Study

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:49:04 -0500

We delight in helping historic racing drivers prepare for adventures in the US and overseas. After working with Tom Benjamin in his Alfa GTV and Cobra for several years here, Tom decided to do the “European Tour” in 2008, a three-event grand-slam of blue riband events for historic cars.

We used tailored simulations using a similar car (down to the tire modeling of the Dunlop M-series tires) on modern recreations of the circuits he was to compete. We supplied detailed photographic dissections of the tracks on personalized pre-event study “micro-sites.” As a result, Tom was better prepared than any other American entrant at these events. And his performance showed it!

His success at LeMans Classic in July, the Nurbugring OldTimer GP in August and Spa in September validates the various “modes of inquiry” utilized by Krause & Associates to help clients come up to speed before they ever even arrive at an unfamiliar circuit.

This week, Graham Adelman and I spent sometime practicing Australia’s challenging Eastern Creek circuit near Sydney in preparation for his participation in the Tasman Series Revival. We wish Graham and Sharon the best of luck exercising the marvelous cars in their stable at this great track.

The simulation we used was a nearly perfect laser-scanned replication, down to the bumps and jars present in the actual circuit. This technology allows a proper and exact reproduction of what drivers are likely to find before they get there.

Call us today if we can help you succeed here and overseas in your historic racing effort.

New Technology Enhances Client Outcomes at K&A

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:29:31 -0500

Just like shiny cars and the latest “trick” modification to improve performance on the track, I find myself constantly drawn to emerging technology in an effort to better serve my clients.

I was looking for a way to ease the strain of analyzing data and evaluating video at the track on the excellent albeit small MacBook Air without lugging an extra monitor and securing it in our “mobile office,” the ubiquitous Chevrolet Suburban.

I found the answer in Hewlett-Packard’s latest all-in-one PC that uses H-P’s new TouchSmart technology. This is an all in one, 22” monitor Intel Core 2 Duo with Microsoft’s latest 64-bit computing software. It uses a touchscreen interface that eliminates the need for a keyboard and mouse (included if you need them). After having used it in the field for the first time, it’s going to work GREAT for illustrating rapidly the information collected from data and video in our clients cars.

The other big breakthrough that I’ve begun to implement through the assistance of one of my clients, Hunter Allen of the Peaks Coaching Group, is using the remote teleconferencing application “GoToMeeting,” by Citrix. This allows clients with broadband access to share a display and speak together with my associates and I real-time, enhancing access for all of our clients before and after race weekends and track days.

Look for more information soon on our subscription based coaching programs.

Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato and Turner 1500 at VIR Member Day

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 08:36:10 -0400

It’s always fun to work with people starting out in the vintage and historic racing world. By and large, these folks tend to be enthusiasts and excited about all things sports car related. They’re interested in the participatory aspect and not just showing or looking at the cars. They are highly successful in other areas of their lives and almost always that translates, if not immediately, relatively quickly to their new found hobby.

Graham and Sharon Adelman have the benefit of being life partners as well as a vintage racing “team.” It’s a great way of spending time together and it’s a pastime they’ve enjoyed in a less competitive setting for many years. Active in the Ferrari world for sometime, they’ve participated in European tours and national-level FCA Concours with their 12-cylinder car and have embarked upon putting together a terrific collection of vintage and historic competition cars.

It was with some pleasure that I saw that Graham had secured the ex-Allen Modney D Production Turner Mk III from Mike Muckle in Charlottesville. This is a car I’ve been familiar with for nearly twenty years and is a very competitive SVRA Group Three car. Graham’s initial outing was the SVRA VIR event where he went quite well, but he really shone at the SVRA Road Atlanta weekend, running in the top six overall and finishing third in a highly competitive Group 3 field.

Sharon started with her beautiful Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato round-tail at SVRA VIR and gained a great deal of confidence every time out. This car is largely unmodified and is at a competitive disadvantage to the “hot-rods” that normally populate US vintage racing. The car is most suitable for “special” events like Pittsburgh and Lime Rock Labor Day, but it’s still a good car with which to hone her skills. I enjoyed taking the wheel at Road Atlanta and at VIR to discover how similar it is to my wonderful VSCCA Giulietta Spider Veloce.

We had a good day Friday on the Full Course at VIR and look forward to working together again at VIR and at Savannah.

Ferrari Club at VIR

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:05:16 -0400

We took this opportunity to work with both a “stone stock” novice and an intermediate level driver looking for evaluation and identification of skills required to progress towards wheel-to-wheel racing. It was a gratifying and successful day for all of us!

Mike Minehart, the latest addition to Daniel Pass’ expanding Ferrari parts empire, Ricambi America, has been around the track a great deal along with the Ferrari of Washington crowd at Summit Point, but had not ever been on track and behind the wheel. Mike and his lovely lady came brimming with excitement and his Nissan 350Z was up to the task.

Throughout the day, Mike and I traded back and forth and by the end of the day, he was more comfortable and much, much smoother than in the beginning. The most amusing exclamation was after his first few laps behind the wheel when he said “it looks so easy on TV or when you’re riding with someone experienced.” So true, but Mike was a quick study and progressed well. We’ll see him back on track sooner rather than later, I have a feeling!

I had been excited to work with another professional coaching colleague (albeit in a different discipline), Hunter Allen, well known in cycling circles. Hunter has a marvelous Ferrari 360 but has purchased a tool more suitable to his aim of competitive road racing, a Porsche 911.

Hunter had been “stuck” at a particular time at VIR for a while, but with clear track and a relaxed mind, he instantly clicked off a third of his eventual improvement before setting to work with me in the passenger seat and our terrific Traqmate data acquisition tool riding along.

With a few tweaks and better discipline, Hunter was able to shatter his previous best and become consistently six seconds faster than his previous plateau and competitive with the podium finishers in his intended class. Our last two sessions on-track resulted in very consistent and top-rung performance on a track that was for many, not as optimal as it could have been. Great stuff.

I was not surprised when Hunter called later that week and ordered a Traqmate Complete for his next outing at Summit Point and we will be working together again at VIR in November at TrackDaze and December at Asphalt Ventures. We’ll be e-mailing data files and evaluations remotely to help him at Summit Point and look forward to collaborating professionally.

SVRA Season Finale at Road Atlanta!

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:09:58 -0400

Another busy weekend at Road Atlanta. The goals were simple, to become more familiar with the track and to go quicker than they had before, if they had been there before.

We were working with Graham Adelman in his Turner, Sharon Adelman in her Alfa Sprint Zagato, 2005 SVRA “Bubba Award” and 2007 SVRA “Most Improved Driver” Skip Bryan, 2006 SVRA Driver of the Year Dave Handy, Lotus ace Bill Bartlett and Lola/Alfa driver Ward Witkowski and they all made for a very good group. We also assisted Butch Cone and his father, Ceasar Cone.

It was nice to see two attendees season-long of the SVRA Traqmate Track Orientation Program recognized for their fine driving. Edie Arrowsmith in her Porsche 914/6 won the UBS Sprint Series Championship for Group 8 and Ardie Greenamyer won the 2008 SVRA “Rookie of the Year” Award. Client Paul Dudiak won the 2008 SVRA “Most Improved Driver” award for his fine efforts in his McKee Formula 5000 car.

Most everyone reached their goals and some exceeded handily. Dave Handy, after a debriefing using his Traqmate data, turned a lap quicker than and led the great Bobby Rahal in the Formula B Group 2 feature, for a lap at least! Graham Edelman emerged as a talent in Group 3 with his Turner finishing first in class and Skip Bryan turned his best lap ever by nearly two seconds over last year, finishing tenth overall and first in class in a tough Group 8 field.

Ward Witkowski smashed his goal and chopped seconds off in his new Lola, as did Sharon Edelman in her Alfa. Bill Bartlett was on his way to his best time when the manifold separated from the head after losing some fastening hardware. Oh well, he had a great time in the Enduro and won the SVRA Group 2 Endurance Championship! Ceasar and Butch went fast, as always.